Meaning And Definition Of Planning

  • Work-from-home

*Sarlaa*

Moderator
VIP
Apr 16, 2013
17,846
7,109
363
32
Pakistan.. karachi
Define Planning and discuss its main characteristics.
OR
Discuss the advantages, limitation and principles of Planning.
OR
What is planning? Outline the steps in planning process.
OR
What is the concept of planning as an element of Management process? Discuss its nature and role in a modern business organisation.


Meaning and Definition of Planning

Planning is thinking in advance or before doing something. All kinds of organisation do planning. Planning helps us in looking into the future. Planning establishes goals or objectives and identifies the ways to achieve them. A plan is a predetermined course of action to be taken in future.

George Steiner
Planning is a process that begins with objectives, defines strategies, policies and detailed plans to achieve them.

Peter Drucker
Planning is the continuous process of making present entrepreneurial (risk taking) decisions systematically and with best possible knowledge of their futurity.


Nature of Characteristics of Planning

There are a number of features or characteristics of planning that indicate towards its nature. These may be outlined as follows:

1. Goal-Oriented
Planning is goal-oriented in the sense that plans are prepared and implemented to achieve certain objectives.

2. Basic to all Managerial Functions
Planning is a function that is the foundation of management process. Planning logically precedes all other function of management, such as organizing, staffing etc because without plan there is nothing to organize nothing to control. Every managerial action has to be properly planned.

3. Pervasive
Planning is a function of all managers, although the nature and extent of planning will vary with their authority and level in the organisation hierarchy. Managers at higher levels spend more time and effort on planning than do lower level managers.

4. Interdependent Process
Planning affects and is affected by the programmes of different departments in so far as these programmes constitute an integrated effort.

5. Future Oriented
Planning is forward looking and it prepares an enterprise for future.

6. Forecasting Integral to Planning
These essence of planning is forecasting. Plans are synthesis of various forecasts. Thus, planning is inextricably (inseparably bound up with planning).

7. Continuous Process
Planning is an ongoing process. Old plans have to be revised and new plans have to be prepared in case the environment undergoes a change. It shows the dynamic nature of planning.

8. Intellectual Process
Planning is a mental or conceptual exercise. It therefore involves rational decision making, requires imagination, foresight and sound judgement and involves thinking before doing thinking on the basis of facts and information.

9. Integrating Process
Planning is essential for the enterprise as a whole. Newman and others have drawn our attention towards this feature of planning, without planning, an enterprise will soon disintegrate the pattern of its actions would be as random as that made by leaves scampering (running quickly in short steps) before an autumn wind and its employees would be as confused as ants in an upturned anthill. If there are no plans action will be a random activity in the organisation instead there will be chaos.

10. Planning and Control are Inseparable
Unplanned action cannot be controlled, without controlled, planned actions cannot be executed. Plans furnish standards of control, In fact Planning is meaningful without control and control is aimless without planning. Planning is measuring rod of efficiency.

11. Choice among Alternative Courses of Action
The need for planning arises due to several ways available for an action. If there is only one way-out left, there is no need for planning.

12. Flexible Process
The principle of navigational change (i.e. change according to changes in environment) applies to planning. In other words, effective planning requires continual checking on events and forecasts and the redrawing of plans to maintain a course towards desired goals. Thus, plans have to be adaptable to changing circumstances.
 
Top